Pastor Mboro’s bodyguard firearm was a replica, court hears

The case against pastor Paseka “Mboro” Motsoeneng will continue at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Gauteng’s East Rand on Thursday.

The self-proclaimed prophet, his bodyguard and his son are facing charges of kidnapping, illegal possession of firearm, discharging a firearm and assault.

This is in connection with an incident in August this year where he is shown on a video storming a primary school brandishing a panga, while forcefully removing two pupils believed to be his grandchildren in Ekurhuleni.

Mboro’s lawyer Advocate Phillip Dlamini denies that his client carried a firearm on the day of the incident saying it was, in fact, a replica.

“Now we have found new evidence that it’s not on schedule five, your worship they don’t say what type of a rifle, they talk about bullets but the accused are not charged with ammunition, but the applicant is not charged with the ammunition, all those things are misleading the court,” explains Dlamini.

Mboro expected back in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court

Meanwhile, the presiding magistrate in Motsoeneng’s court case has criticised how the National Prosecuting Authority approached her recusal application at the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court in Johannesburg.

This follows an application by the state for magistrate Katlego Mokoena to recuse herself. The state has accused the magistrate of bias.

Mboro was arrested together with another accused last month after storming a primary school brandishing a panga, while forcefully removing two pupils, believed to be his grandchildren, in Ekurhuleni.

Magistrate Mokoena says she was not afforded an opportunity to engage with the State regarding the application.